Oops, should I have bought the 300

I just switched from a 200 (non DR) to a 300 DR. The difference is quite amazing. When I had a 272/250 I added a XPSDR over time but now that I have listened a 300DR, I think I would have swapped my 250DR for a 300DR instead of getting the XPSDR but then again, there is a significant price difference...

Nope. Source first. And give them a chance as they are. At least 6 months.

No, go for the 555PS DR - and then the NAP300/300PS DR - add full fat Fraim accordingly. Simple really 

Personal taste - that's what demos are for!

In my case I was lucky enough to get a s/h 300(DR) for very little more than a new 250DR, so I didn't have the dilemma ().

I thought 300DR was going to be my chosen amp until I heard it in my lounge. As I don't subscribe to the 'match your speakers to the chosen source/preamp/amp' school, and had fallen in love with the ProAc K6s and the sound/imagery they produce, I realised, thanks to my dealer, that the issue was room size and the 300DR. The amp was simply producing bass that the rest of the system couldn't cope with in that given setting.

A switch to the 250DR was an almost magical, transformative solution! This has really made me realise that the 'bigger, more expensive, more powerful, more..........' route is not always the best. Every system needs to be, imo, bespoke to the setting in which it's going to be used.

I will never own, nor aspire to own, any Naim amp 'upstream' of the 250DR. 

Tim

Petersfi posted:

upgraded from superuniti to  272/250dr

buyers remorse perhaps, but should I have purchased the 300 rather than having to spend the same money on a xpsdr?

If you had a 300 you'd ideally have at least an XPS anyway, so it's not an issue. 

Once you've done something, there is no point in asking if you should have done something else, because you've done what you've done. 

Quite possibly depends on timescale of adding the XPSdr to the mix as it does have a massive impact on the 272.

Having used a 250dr for almost 12 months and recently upgrading to a 300dr the 300dr in my system and room it is in a different league altogether. 

It seems you upgraded without posting here and asking first which sadly shows a very poor lack of judgement.

Buyer's remorse (after a Naim purchase) is very much frowned upon. 

After a purchase it's best to start a thread with at least one of the following  in the title

1. 3 exclamation marks
2. Wow
3. Wow with 3 exclamation marks

Using of any of the following is now frowned upon 

1. jaw dropping or any general open mouthed reference 
2. in the house
3. in da house
4. wow with 4 or more exclamation marks

in the thread itself it is obligatory that

1. You are smiling ear to ear
2. the noise floor is lowered
3. you're rediscovering your collection 
4. your wife  heared the difference from the kitchen and rushed in to ask what had changed. 

Good to have but but not essential 

1. inky blackness
2. veil removed (always a good idea to give some measurements of the thickness of the veil that was removed).

If you keep to these simple rules you will have many long  years of Naim happiness and loads of friends here on the forum. 

.sjb

No - source first

spend the money on XPS-DR

Preamp upgrades (XPS DR will upgrade your 272 preamp also)  are more impressive than power amp upgrades in the Naim world.

Hungryhalibut posted:

Once you've done something, there is no point in asking if you should have done something else, because you've done what you've done. 

Well stated. The moment you start doing that you risk disappointment, dissatisfaction, depression... and dosh.

One day, when you have the cash and are considering an upgrade, you could have a listen to that and other options  - in the meantime if it were me I would revel in what I have and forget it.

You have done what you have done, you should be done for the time being.....

Or..... If you are doubting your decision you should undo what you have done, do what you should have done in the first place and then you will be done....for the time being... 

Sloop John B posted:

in the thread itself it is obligatory that

1. your wife  heared the difference from the kitchen and rushed in to ask what had changed. 

 

Funnily enough, my wife never seems to be able to hear the difference and wonders why I spent the money!

Sloop John B posted:

It seems you upgraded without posting here and asking first which sadly shows a very poor lack of judgement.

Buyer's remorse (after a Naim purchase) is very much frowned upon. 

After a purchase it's best to start a thread with at least one of the following  in the title

1. 3 exclamation marks
2. Wow
3. Wow with 3 exclamation marks

 

Using of any of the following is now frowned upon 

1. jaw dropping or any general open mouthed reference 
2. in the house
3. in da house
4. wow with 4 or more exclamation marks

 

in the thread itself it is obligatory that

1. You are smiling ear to ear
2. the noise floor is lowered
3. you're rediscovering your collection 
4. your wife  heared the difference from the kitchen and rushed in to ask what had changed. 

 

Good to have but but not essential 

1. inky blackness
2. veil removed (always a good idea to give some measurements of the thickness of the veil that was removed).

 

If you keep to these simple rules you will have many long  years of Naim happiness and loads of friends here on the forum. 

 

.sjb

You missed the most important ones

1.more detail - this is my favorite, detail is Endless! 

2. Punchier bass

3. Wider stage.

4. Distance between instruments.

You forgot the space around the instruments and - best of all - the space around the notes. They feel lonely like that, but sound more beautiful....

I've had a thought...

Quick, have another one before it get's lonely!...   

Clive B posted:

Sloop John B posted:

in the thread itself it is obligatory that

1. your wife  heard the difference from the kitchen and rushed in to ask what had changed. 

Funnily enough, my wife never seems to be able to hear the difference and wonders why I spent the money!

A couple of weeks ago my wife was standing up while we were listening to a track that she does not like (perhaps because I play it a lot), and she suddenly realised that she was dancing involuntarily. I just smiled 

Clive B posted:

Sloop John B posted:

in the thread itself it is obligatory that

1. your wife  heared the difference from the kitchen and rushed in to ask what had changed. 

 

Funnily enough, my wife never seems to be able to hear the difference and wonders why I spent the money!

Mine told me which sounded better and just get it, hearing in  the adjoining room, while I was still trying to decide if the improvement was worth the huge cost.

Wives have wisdom. Out of curiosity, does the same hold true for male partners?

For personal reasons, I find that a very interesting observation.

Chris Dolan posted:

Clive B posted:

Sloop John B posted:

in the thread itself it is obligatory that

1. your wife  heard the difference from the kitchen and rushed in to ask what had changed. 

Funnily enough, my wife never seems to be able to hear the difference and wonders why I spent the money!

A couple of weeks ago my wife was standing up while we were listening to a track that she does not like (perhaps because I play it a lot), and she suddenly realised that she was dancing involuntarily. I just smiled 

Hi Chris -

Hope it was the dance of the seven veils! After all, the 300 is supposed to lift a veil or two from, er...the music I suppose. 

ATB.

Hook

I'd take a bare N272/300DR anyday over a N272/XPS-DR/250DR

greekspec2 posted:

I'd take a bare N272/300DR anyday over a N272/XPS-DR/250DR

Just out of interest, what are your room dimensions?  As I'm sure you read, I found the 300DR bass simply overpowering, whereas the 250DR paired with 272 and 555PS sounds exquisite! My room is 6m x 5m, ceiling is 3m high.

Tim

The 250 and 300 are very different amps. I think the 300 is worth the outlay, but it's a lot more. Many prefer the 250.  Both will give their best with a good source and that's where I'd be putting my resources. In your present situation, if I had 300 level money available I'd be boosting the source significantly. Or at least looking into it.

most people buy the 250DR because of affordability otherwise they have a 300/500

Timmo1341 posted:

greekspec2 posted:

I'd take a bare N272/300DR anyday over a N272/XPS-DR/250DR

Just out of interest, what are your room dimensions?  As I'm sure you read, I found the 300DR bass simply overpowering, whereas the 250DR paired with 272 and 555PS sounds exquisite! My room is 6m x 5m, ceiling is 3m high.

Tim

Curious Tim. I had the opposite impression. The 300DR provided me with greater bass control and it was really a upgrade from the 250 especially at lower volumes. 

Same here. The 250 bass was crash, bang, wallop. The 250DR was rather mechanical and over emphasised. The 300 by comparison sounded well controlled, musical, nicely poised. The room must play a big part.